The Characterisation of Oilfield Chemicals by Electrospray Ionization Multi-Stage Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MSᵑ)

A diverse range of polar organic chemicals used during the offshore production of crude oils is routinely discharged from oil production platforms in so-called Produced Water (PW). The environmental fate of these chemicals is largely unknown since few methods exist for their detection. In the present study, the use of multistage electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry (ES1-MSᶯ) was investigated for the detection, identification, characterisation and quantification of compounds in both speciality oilfield chemicals (corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, biocides and demulsifiers) and in Produced Water.AstraZeneca, Brixham Environmental Laborator